24 September,2026 04:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Tamil Nadu CM Vijay and Jason Sanjay. Pic via X
Jason Sanjay is preparing to make his directorial debut with Sigma, but he knows that stepping into the film industry comes with an unavoidable connection to his family name. The filmmaker, who is the son of Tamil superstar and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, admitted that he often wonders how audiences will view him when they watch his first film.
In a conversation with Galatta Plus, Jason was asked whether people would see him as the Chief Minister's son, a superstar's son or simply as a director trying to establish his own identity. He acknowledged that his family background will always be part of his journey.
"I think about it all the time," Jason said, adding that his "family legacy is going to continue forever." He also referred to the political changes taking place around his family, saying that the legacy and public identity attached to it would continue.
However, Jason hopes that Sigma will eventually allow audiences to separate his work from his surname.
"I am doing my own film in my small bubble, making my mark in the industry and delivering my vision," he said.
According to Jason, the film itself will eventually become more important than the identity he enters the industry with. "Basically, after five minutes of watching the movie, it'll only be like, âDirected by Jason Sanjay,'" he explained.
The filmmaker added that audiences would ultimately judge what he has created rather than simply focus on his background. "Whatever the criticism I get, positive or negative, the work will speak who I am," he said.
For Jason, Sigma is therefore the beginning of a larger journey. He hopes to use the experience and exposure from his first film to build a career and establish an identity independent of his family. "After the release of Sigma, I can concentrate on building my identity and using the success and exposure of Sigma to prolong my career," he added.
Jason also opened up about the side of his father, Vijay, that he would like to explore as a filmmaker. For him, it is the actor's sense of humour and his more relaxed personality.
"I like my father's sense of humour, something that I really enjoy watching him do, letting loose and being himself," Jason said. Having grown up seeing that personal side of Vijay, he feels there is an "inner-child-like nature" in the actor that audiences could see more of.
Jason believes Vijay has gradually moved away from films where he gets to play completely relatable characters. If given the opportunity, the young filmmaker said he would like to bring out that aspect of his father's personality on screen.
Starring Sundeep Kishan and Faria Abdullah, Sigma marks Jason Sanjay's first film as a director and is scheduled to release on October 2.
